The cybersecurity audit market in France is opaque
You're looking for a provider to audit your application. The problem: offers are incomparable, certifications are confusing, and prices vary 10x. Here are concrete criteria for making the right choice.
Criterion 1: Specialization
A provider specializing in application security doesn't have the same profile as one specializing in network security or documentary compliance. If your need is to test your web application's security, choose an auditor who understands your technical stack (Supabase, Firebase, Laravel, React, Next.js).
Ask for examples of vulnerabilities found on stacks similar to yours.
Criterion 2: Methodology
Two main approaches:
Automated: the provider runs scanners (Nessus, Burp Suite) and sends you the report. Fast and inexpensive, but misses business logic flaws.
Manual: an expert manually analyzes your application, understands the business logic, and identifies flaws scanners miss. More expensive but significantly more effective.
The best provider combines both: automated scanning for coverage + manual analysis for depth.
Criterion 3: Certifications
PASSI (Prestataire d'Audit de Securite des Systemes d'Information): ANSSI qualification for information systems audits. Mandatory for critical infrastructure (OIV) audits. Not necessary for an SMB application audit, but a quality guarantee.
OSCP, OSWE, BSCP: individual certifications of the auditor. They validate real technical skills in pentesting or web security.
Provider's ISO 27001: proves the provider manages its own systems' security. Consistent but not sufficient alone.
Criterion 4: The report and deliverables
The report must contain a clear description of each vulnerability, proof of exploitation (PoC), the concrete impact on your data and business, and prioritized remediation recommendations.
A good report is directly actionable by your technical team. A bad report is a 100-page PDF of scanner false positives.
Criterion 5: Cost and timeline
Red flags
Questions to ask
Why external review is a good first step
An external review needs no access to your servers, doesn't disrupt production, and delivers results in 48h. It's the fastest, lowest-risk way to evaluate your security posture. If critical flaws are found, you can then order a targeted pentest on the identified points.
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Sources
Editorial analysis based on official vendor, project, and regulator documentation.
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